Torsion assembly for controllably providing torque to a camshaft

ABSTRACT

A torsion assembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft, including: a spring assembly including a first spring; and, a contact element arranged to engage at least one lobe for the camshaft. For a locked mode: the contact element is arranged to be displaced by the at least one cam lobe; the contact element is arranged to compress the first spring; and the first spring is arranged to impart a first torque to the camshaft via the contact element. For an unlocked mode, the contact element is arranged to be displaced by the at least one cam lobe and the contact element is arranged to impart a second torque, less than the first torque, to the cam shaft via the contact element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/789,528 filed Jul. 1, 2015, which application claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/041,948, filed Aug. 26, 2014, all of which applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to torsional assembly for controllablyproviding torque to a camshaft, for example, a camshaft in a vehiculardrive train. In particular, the torsional assembly includes a rockerarm, a switchable roller finger follower, or a tappet for engaging withlobes on the camshaft. The lobes are arranged to displace the rockerarm, the finger follower, or the tappet to compress one or two springsto generate and transmit to the camshaft a respective torque associatedwith compression of the two springs.

In vehicles including an engine with a drive train having a variable camtiming (VCT) system, when the engine is turned off and the camshaft isretarded, the camshaft must be ratcheted to the mid-position when theengine is next started. Further, the ratcheting must be done within arelatively short time span, for example, while an operator is attemptingto start the engine. VCT systems with midlock require certain magnitudeof torsionals in order to engage the midlock pin, prior to oil pressurereaching a necessary threshold to disengage the pin during normal engineoperation. Often start-up torsionals are not enough to engage the pin.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,805 discloses an extra cam on a camshaft to increasethe magnitude of torsionals during engine operation. The extra cam shaftremains active during normal engine operation. Thus, once the engine isstarted, the camshaft torsionals are still present. However, thecamshaft torsionals are not necessary for operation of the VCT systemand can have detrimental effect on other engine components such ashigher loads in the valve train, higher chain drive forces, poor chaindrive performance, and poor performance in general for any componentattached to or operated by the camshaft, such as a fuel pump.

SUMMARY

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torsionassembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft, including: aspring assembly including a first spring; and, a contact elementarranged to engage at least one lobe for the camshaft. For a lockedmode: the contact element is arranged to be displaced by the at leastone cam lobe; the contact element is arranged to compress the firstspring; and the first spring is arranged to impart a first torque to thecamshaft via the contact element. For an unlocked mode, the contactelement is arranged to be displaced by the at least one cam lobe and thecontact element is arranged to impart a second torque, less than thefirst torque, to the cam shaft via the contact element.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torsionassembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft, including: afirst spring with a first spring constant;

-   -   a second spring with a second spring constant less than the        first spring constant; a lock element including a distal end;        and a contact element. For a locked mode: a position of the        distal end is fixed; at least one lobe for the camshaft is        arranged to displace the contact element; and the displaced        contact element is arranged to compress the first spring and        transmit a first torque to the camshaft. For an unlocked mode:        the at least one lobe for the camshaft is arranged to displace        the contact element; and the displaced contact element is        arranged to compress the second spring and transmit second        torque, less than the first torque, to the camshaft.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torsionassembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft, including: ahousing; a pressure chamber at least partially enclosed by the housing;at least one pin partially disposed in the pressure chamber; a firstspring engaged with the at least one pin; a second spring engaged withthe housing; a third spring; and a piston engaged with the second andthird springs. For a locked mode: the first spring is arranged todisplace the at least one pin to block displacement of the piston withrespect to the housing; the at least one cam lobe is arranged todisplace the housing in the first direction to compress the third springin the first direction to generate a first torque; and the housing isarranged to transmit the first torque to the camshaft. For an unlockedmode: the pressure chamber is arranged to be pressurized to displace theat least one pin to enable displacement of the housing with respect tothe piston; the at least one cam lobe is arranged to displace thehousing to compress the second spring in the first direction to generatea second torque, less than the first torque; and the housing is arrangedto transmit the second torque to the camshaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which correspondingreference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-sectional view of a torsionassembly, including a rocker arm, for providing controllable torsion toa camshaft;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-sectional view of a torsionassembly, including a switching roller finger follower, for providingcontrollable torsion to a camshaft;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-sectional view of a torsionassembly, including a switching roller finger follower, for providingcontrollable torsion to a camshaft; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-sectional view of a torsionassembly, including a tappet, for providing controllable torsion to acamshaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that thedisclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to theparticular methodology, materials and modifications described and assuch may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only,and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood thatany methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of torsion assembly 100, including arocker arm, for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of torsion assembly 100, including aswitching finger follower, for providing controllable torsion to acamshaft.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of torsion assembly 100, including aswitching finger follower and a fixed lock element, for providingcontrollable torsion to a camshaft.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view torsion assembly 100, including tappet,for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft. The following shouldbe viewed in light of FIGS. 1 through 4. Assembly 100 includes springassembly 101, including spring 102, and contact element 104 arranged toengage at least one lobe L of camshaft C. Hereinafter, “at least one camlob C” is referred to as “cam lobe C” to simplify presentation. In anexample embodiment, contact element 104 is arranged to contact aplurality of lobes L.

For a locked mode, contact element 104 is arranged to be displaced bycam lobe L in direction D1 and element 104 is arranged to compressspring 102 in direction D1. Spring 102 urges at least a portion ofelement 104 in direction D2; therefore, the resistance of spring 102 tocompression in direction D1 imparts torque T1 to lobe L and camshaft Cvia contact element 104. As camshaft C rotates, lobe L and spring 102displace end E1 of element 104 in directions D1 and D2 in a cycle.

For an unlocked mode, contact element 104 is arranged to be displaced bycam lobe C and contact element 104 is arranged to impart torque T2, lessthan torque T1, to cam shaft C via contact element 104. In an exampleembodiment, spring 102 is free of compression from contact element 104during the unlocked mode. As camshaft C rotates, lobe L and spring 102displace end E2 of element 104 in directions D1 and D2 in a cycle.

For a full 360 degree rotation of camshaft C in the locked mode, contactelement 104 is arranged to transmit a cumulative torque to the camshaft. For a full 360 degree rotation of camshaft C in the unlockedmode, the contact element is arranged to transmit a cumulative torque tothe cam shaft, which is less than the cumulative torque transmitted bythe contact element for a full 360 degree rotation of camshaft C in thelocked mode.

In general, torque T2 is much lower than torque T1 and has little or noimpact on the operation of camshaft C. In an example embodiment, spring102 is configured to prevent full compression of spring 102 in thelocked mode.

In an example embodiment, assembly 100 includes camshaft C.

The following discussion is directed to the example embodiment shown inFIG. 1. Assembly 100 includes lock element 106. End E1 is engaged withassembly 101 and end E2 is engaged with distal end 106A of lock element106. For the locked mode, end E2 pivots on lock element 106 and for theunlocked mode, end E1 pivots on assembly 101.

Lock element 106 includes housing 112, component 114, including end106A, and spring 116. Portion 114A of component 114 is disposed withinhousing 112. Spring 116 is disposed within housing 112. In an exampleembodiment, spring 116 urges component 114 in direction D2, oppositedirection D1, with force F1 due to preloading of spring 116. F1increases as spring 116 is compressed. In an example embodiment, spring116 is not preloaded and force F1 is generated when spring 116 iscompressed. End E2 is engaged with end 106A. As further described below,spring 102 provides force F2, greater than F1, in direction D2.

For the locked mode, component 114 is fixed with respect to housing 112and end E2 pivots on component 114 so that end E1 displaces in directionD1 and compresses spring 102. In an example embodiment, spring 116 isnot compressed in the locked mode. In an example embodiment, spring 116is configured to prevent full compression of spring 116 in the unlockedmode.

For the unlocked mode, end E1 pivots on assembly 101 and component 114is displaced, with respect to housing 112, by end E2 in direction D1 tocompress spring 116. That is, since F1 is less than F2, in response tothe displacement of element 104, spring 116 compresses before spring 102compresses. In an example embodiment, spring 102 is not compressed inthe unlocked mode.

In an example embodiment, assembly 101 includes piston 118 partiallydisposed in housing 119 and engaged with end E1 and end 120 of spring102 and displaceable in directions D1 and D2. End 122 of spring 102 isarranged to be fixed with respect to cam shaft C. For example, spring102 is installed in component CM of a valve train including cam shaft C,for example the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, with end122 engaged with CM. Piston 118 includes flange 118A which engageshousing 119 to limit displacement of piston 118 in direction D2. In anexample embodiment, spring 102 is preloaded to exert force F2, greaterthan F1, in direction D2 on piston 118 and F2 increases as spring 102 iscompressed. In an example embodiment, spring 102 is not preloaded and aspring constant for spring 102 is such that as spring 102 is compressed,force F2 is generated.

In an example embodiment, lock element 106 includes piston 124, chamber126, pins 128A and 128B at least partially disposed in chamber 126, andspring 130. Spring 130 urges pins 128A and 128B in opposite directionsD3 and D4, respectively. Piston 124 is engaged with component 114 andend 131 of spring 116. For the locked mode, chamber 126 is substantiallyunpressurized and spring 130 is arranged to displace pins 128A and 128Bdirections D3 and D4, respectively, into slots 132A and 132B,respectively in housing 112. The placement of pins 129A and 129B intoslots 132A and 132B fixes component 114 and housing 112 together.Movement of component 114 in direction D1 is prevented by pins 129A and129B, and component 114 becomes a fixed component about which element104 pivots. For example, a position of component 114, in particular, end106A, is fixed with respect to camshaft C.

For the unlocked mode, chamber 126 is pressurized to displace pins 128Aand 128B directions D4 and D3, respectively, out of slots 132A and 132B,respectively. Component 114, pins 129A and 129B, and piston 124 are nowdisplaceable. The displacement of end E2 in direction D1

Contact element 104 includes rocker arm 132 with bearing 134. Arm 133includes ends E1 and E2. Bearing 134 is arranged to engage lobe L tominimize frictional losses. Arm 132 is connected to bearing 134 so thatbearing 134 and 132 displace in unison in responses to lobe L.

The following discussion is directed to the example embodiment shown inFIG. 2. The description of assembly 101 in FIG. 1 are applicable toassembly 101 in FIG. 2.

In an example embodiment, contact element 104 includes switchable rollerfinger follower 136 including arm 138, and shaft 140, about which arm138 is disposed. Portion 138A of arm 138 includes end E1 and portion138B of arm 138 includes end E2.

For the locked mode, arm 138 is non-rotatably engaged with shaft 140(arm 138 and shaft 140 are fixed with respect to each other). Inresponse to lobe L, portion 138B of arm 138, is displaced in directionD2 so that arm 138 pivots to compress spring 102 and generate torque T1.

For the unlocked mode, rotation of arm 138 about shaft 140 is enabled.In response to lobe L, portion 138B of arm 138 is displaced in directionD1. Since arm 138 is rotatable about shaft 140, arm 138 rotates withrespect to shaft 140 to accommodate the displacement of portion 138Bwithout compressing spring 102. The rotation of arm 138 generates torqueT2.

The following discussion is directed to the example embodiment of FIG.3. The description of assembly 101 in FIG. 1 is applicable to assembly101 in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, contact element 104 includes switchable roller fingerfollower 136 including arm 138, and shaft 140, about which arm 138 isdisposed. Portion 138A of arm 138 includes end E1 and portion 138B ofarm 138 includes end E2. Lock element 106 is fixed with respect tocomponent CM, in particular, end 106A is fixed with respect to componentCM.

For the locked mode, arm 138 is non-rotatably engaged with shaft 140. Inresponse to lobe L, follower 136, in particular, bearing 139 and arm138, is displaced in direction D1 so that arm 138 pivots about lockelement 106 to compress spring 102 and generate torque T1.

For the unlocked mode, rotation of arm 138 about shaft 140 is enabled.In response to lobe L, bearing 139 is displaced in direction D1. Sincearm 138 is rotatable about shaft 140, arm 138 pivots about spring 102and rotates with respect to shaft 140 to accommodate the displacement ofbearing 139 without compressing spring 102. The rotation of arm 138generates torque T2.

The following discussion is directed to the example embodiment of FIG.4. The description of spring 116 and assembly 101 in FIG. 1 isapplicable to assembly 101 in FIG. 4.

In an example embodiment, for example as shown in FIG. 4, element 104includes: housing 142; pressure chamber 144 at least partially enclosedhousing 142; pins 146A and 146B partially disposed in pressure chamber144; spring 148 engaged with pins 146A and 146B and urging pins 146A and146B in opposite directions D3 and D4, respectively; piston 150; spring102; and spring 116. Spring 116 is engaged with piston 150 and housing142. Spring 102 is engaged with piston 150 and component CM. In anexample embodiment, piston 150 includes component 152 and at least onecomponent 154 and pins 146A and 146B are disposed between component 152and at least one component 154. Spring 116 is engaged with component152. In an example embodiment, at least one component 154 includespiston 118 and component 154A. Pins 146A and 146B are disposed betweencomponent 152 and component 154A. Piston 118 is engaged with component154A.

For the locked mode, spring 148 is arranged to displace pins 146A and146B in opposite directions D3 and D4, respectively, into slots 156A and156B, respectively, in housing 142 to block displacement of the pistonwith respect to the housing. The at least one cam lobe L is arranged todisplace housing 142 in direction D1 to compress spring 102 in directionD1 and generate torque T1. Housing 142 is arranged to transmit torque T1to camshaft C.

For the unlocked mode, pressure chamber144 is arranged to be pressurizedto displace pins 146A and 146B in directions D4 and D3, respectively,out of slots 156A and 156B, respectively, to enable displacement ofhousing 142 with respect to piston 150. The at least one cam lobe L isarranged to displace housing 142 in direction D1 to compress spring 116in direction D1 and generate torque T2. Housing 142 is arranged totransmit torque T1 to camshaft C. Because force F2 is greater than forceF1, spring 102 is not compressed in the unlocked mode unless the spring116 is fully compressed by housing 142 and housing 142 is displaced indirection D1 after fully compressing spring 116. However, in an exampleembodiment, element 104 is configured to prevent the fully compressionof spring 116.

Advantageously, each of the respective example embodiments in FIGS. 1through 4 solves the problems, noted above, associated with camshafttorsionals. For example, when extra torsion is needed to ratchetcamshaft C, for example, the engine is turned off with the camshaftretarded, assembly 100 is operated in the locked mode, providing torqueT1 to the camshaft. For example, when extra torsion is not required,assembly 100 is operated in the unlocked mode, which imparts negligibletorque to the camshaft.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Variouspresently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by thoseskilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by thefollowing claims.

1. A torsion assembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft,comprising: a spring assembly including a first spring; and, a contactelement arranged to engage at least one lobe for the camshaft, wherein:for a locked mode: the contact element is arranged to be displaced bythe at least one cam lobe; the contact element is arranged to compressthe first spring; and, the first spring is arranged to impart a firsttorque to the camshaft via the contact element; and, for an unlockedmode: the contact element is arranged to be displaced by the at leastone cam lobe; and, the contact element is arranged to impart a secondtorque, less than the first torque, to the cam shaft via the contactelement.
 2. The torsion assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a lockelement including a non-displaceable distal end, wherein: the contactelement includes a switching roller finger follower, the switchingroller finger follower including: a bearing arranged to contact the atleast one camshaft lobe; and, an arm: connected to the bearing; disposedabout a shaft; and including: a first portion with a first end engagedwith the spring assembly; and, a second portion including a second endengaged with the distal end of the lock element, wherein: for the lockedmode: the bearing is arranged to be displaced by the at least one lobe;the arm is arranged to non-rotatably connect to the shaft; the secondend is arranged to pivot on the distal end; and, the first end isarranged to compress the first spring; and, for the unlocked mode: thebearing is arranged to be displaced by the at least one lobe; rotationof the arm with respect to the shaft is enabled; the arm is arranged torotate with respect to the shaft; the first end is arranged to pivot onthe spring assembly; and, the second end is arranged to compress thesecond spring.
 3. The torsion assembly of claim 2, wherein for theunlocked mode, the first spring is not compressed.
 4. The torsionassembly of claim 1, wherein: the contact element includes a switchingroller finger follower; the switching roller finger follower includes anarm disposed about a shaft; the arm includes: a first end engaged withthe spring assembly; and, a second end arranged to engage the at leastone lobe for the camshaft; for the locked mode: the arm is arranged tonon-rotatably connect to the shaft; the at least one lobe for thecamshaft is arranged to displace the second end; and, the first end isarranged to compress the first spring; and, for the unlocked mode: theat least one lobe for the camshaft is arranged to displace the secondend; and; the arm is arranged to rotate about the shaft.
 5. A torsionassembly for providing controllable torsion to a camshaft, comprising: ahousing; a pressure chamber at least partially enclosed by the housing;at least one pin partially disposed in the pressure chamber; a firstspring engaged with the at least one pin; a second spring engaged withthe housing; a third spring; and, a piston engaged with the second andthird springs, wherein: for a locked mode: the first spring is arrangedto displace the at least one pin to block displacement of the pistonwith respect to the housing; the at least one cam lobe is arranged todisplace the housing in the first direction to compress the third springin the first direction to generate a first torque; and, the housing isarranged to transmit the first torque to the camshaft; for an unlockedmode: the pressure chamber is arranged to be pressurized to displace theat least one pin to enable displacement of the housing with respect tothe piston; the at least one cam lobe is arranged to displace thehousing to compress the second spring in the first direction to generatea second torque, less than the first torque; and, the housing isarranged to transmit the second torque to the camshaft.
 6. The torsionassembly of claim 5, wherein: the housing and the piston form a chamber;and, the second spring is disposed in the chamber and engaged with thehousing.
 7. The torsion assembly of claim 6, wherein: the pistonincludes a first component and at least one second component; the atleast one pin is disposed between the first component and the at leastone second component; and, for the locked mode, the at least one pindisplaces with the piston.
 8. The torsion assembly of claim 6, whereinin the unlocked mode, the housing is displaceable with respect to thepiston.